mopherson



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' H. MoPI-IERSON.

SAND BOX FOR CARS. No. 542,8-32..-

Patented July 16, 1895.

(No Model.) I 2 SheetsSheet 2 H. MOPHERSON.

SAND BOX FOR CARS. No. 542,832. Patented July 16, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

HENRY MOPHERSON, OFTROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM SLEIOHER, JR, OF SAME PLACE.

'. SAND-BOX FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.'542,832, dated July 16, 18953.

vApplication filed May 1, 1895. Serial No. 547,794- (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern Lib Be it known that I, HENRY MCPHERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing-at Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Sand-Boxes for Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements, and consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several figures therein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a longitudinal vertical section of a part of a railway-car, showing my improved sand-box in side elevation and secured to the car with the sand-' drum in its normal closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the drum in its open position adapted to deliver sand into a conduit leading to the car-track. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the broken line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the actuating mechanism in modified form. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the sand drum detached from its fixed bearing-support with the springcovering plate removed and showing the trunnion and bearing-sleeve in cross-section. Fig. 6 is a side View of the bearing-sleeve detached. Fig. 7 is an end view of the sleeve. Fig. 8 is a reverse side elevation of the sanddrum, bearing-support, and drum-case. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section of a portion of the drum and case, taken on the broken line 9 9 in Fig. 8.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of sand-boxes shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 512,480, dated January 9, 1894, to which patent reference may be had in connection with the draw ings and specification herein for a full understanding of my present improvements.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the floor of a street-railway car, and A the dashboard at one end of the car.

Secured to the car-floor, as by screw-bolts A are the uprights A and A, which form bearing-supports for the sand-drum B. The drum is provided invits perimeter with a discharge opening or spout B and on the reverse side (shown in Fig. 8) with a trunnion B rotary in hearings in the upper end of the upright A and on the obverse side (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) with a trunnion B rotary in a sleeve 0. The sleeve forms a bearing for the trunnion and is itself supported by the no right A as shown. The obverse side of the drum is also providedwith an annular rib or flange B around the trunnion on that side, the outer peripheral surface of which forms a pulley for operating the sand-box by means of a draw-chain D, one end of which is secured to the pulley and the-other end to a slidepiece D, adapted to move vertically in a slideway D erected upon and bolted to the carplatform just back of the dashboard.

The slide-piece is provided with a foot-rest D for operating the piece in a downward direction, and the draw-chain passes over the guide-pulleys D D and D The slideway D comprises a tubular slotted post provided with a bottom flange which is bolted to the car-platform, as shown. The post is provided near its upper end with an oifsettingbraoket in which are the bearings for the guide-pulley B The'wall of the tubular post is slotted nearly to the bottom to form an open slideway for the foot-rest connected with the slide-piece within the post. The bottom of the slot forms a stop for limiting the movement of the foot-rest.

When the foot-operated slide-piece is depressed to its limit of downward movement, as seen in Fig. 2, the sand-drum is given approximately a quarter-turn, so that the spout is carried from the upper position (shown in Fig. 1) to the lower position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

As a means for restoring the parts to the position shown in Fig. 1, When the foot of the operator is removed and the slide-piece released, I provide a retraction-spring S in the form of a spiralcoil surrounding the bearingsleeve 0 and inclosed by the pulley-flange B The inner end of the spring is secured to the sleeve and the outer end to the flange or some support S fixed to the drum.

I have shown in Fig. 5 the inner end of the IOO spring bent to a right angle and inserted in a slot or recess 0 in the sleeve.

The backward rotary movement of the sand-drum is limited by a stop mechanism consisting of a pin or lug 1-3" projecting from the reverse side of the drum far enough to engage the frame of the uprightA acushion of rubber or other yielding material B being fitted into'a dovetailed recess in the frame A in the path of the pin to deaden the force of the blow.

To give the retraction-spring any desired force it is only necessary to rotate the sleeve 0 in a backward direction, while the drum is held in a non-rotary position by the stop mechanism, and secure it to the fixed upright, as by the set-screw Cipassing down through a screw-threaded aperture in the upper end of the upright to the sleeve.

The force of the spring can be easily varied and adjusted by loosening the set-screws, rotating the sleeve in the desired direction, and again securing the sleeve by the screw. The projecting end C of the sleeve may be angular in form, adapted to receive an operatingwrench. When the setscrew is loosened the sleeve is free to rotate in the uprightsupport.

The spring is covered and protected by means of the disk-cover B which is provided with a central aperture to receive the sleeve, and with screw-holes around .its peripheral edge through which screws B are inserted in the screw-threaded holes B in the pulleyflange.

F is the vertical chute or conduit leading down through the car-floor, and F the funnel-shaped mouth at its upper end adapted to receive the sand as it falls from the inverted drum. \Vhen this funnel was left open and exposed in the floor of the car, it became a convenient receptacle for orange-peel, banana-skins and other Waste, which sometimes clogged the chute and rendered the apparatus inoperative.

I have ascertained that by partially inclosing the drum with a case F and connecting its lower end with the upper end of the funnel the chute is amply protected.

\Vhen desired, the end of the draw-chain on the car-platform may be provided with a ring II and the upper guide'pulley and foot-operated slide-piece dispensed with, the operator simply grasping the ring with the hand and giving it a pull.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sand-box, the combination with a trunnion-supported sand-drum having a perimetrical spout, and fixed bearing-supports, of a drunrpulley consisting of an annular rib on one side of the sand-drum embracing the trunnion, a retraction-springcoiled aboutthe trunnion Within the rib, secured at its inner end to a fixed support and at its outer end to a support on the sand-drum, a draw-chain fixed to the pulley. and means for actuating the chain, substantially as described.

2. In a sand-box, the combination with a trunnion-s11 pported sand-drum having a perimetrical spout, and fixed bearing-supports,of a bearingslceve rotary Within the support and upon a drum-trunnion, means for imparting to the sleeve a rotary movement, means for locking the sleeve against rotary movements, and a retraction-spring secured at one end to the sleeve and at the other end to the drum, substantially as described.

3. In a sandbox for cars, the combination with a rotary sand-drum having a perimetrical spout, and an actuating drum-pulley on one side of the drum, of a slotted tubular slideway-post bolted to the car-platform, a slide-piece reciprocatory in the slideway; a foot-rest on the slide-piece projected through the slideway-slot; guide-pulleys between the slide-piece and drum-pulley; an offsetting bracket on the upper end of the slideway'post containing bearings for one of the guide-pulleys; and a draw-chain connection between the drum-pulley and upper end of the slide-' piece in engagement with the several guidepulleys, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this th day of April, 1895.

HENRY MCPHERSON. lVitnesses:

GEO. A. MOSHER, FRANK O. CURTIS. 

